What’s new in theaters

Veterans tribute

Fox Valley Repertory honors America’s soldiers with “Letters Home: A Memorial Day Remembrance” featuring ensemble members reading letters from Fox Valley area soldiers to their families and friends, accompanied by the Fox Valley Concert Band. Among the missives are World War II love letters from Army Lt. Charles Hardman to his wife, submitted by their daughter Sarah Giachino co-founder of Fox Valley Troop Support Inc.

8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org.

Raven’s Chekhov

Raven Theatre presents a timely revival of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” about an aristocratic Russian family that has fallen on hard times, “whose financial structure has been pulled out from under them while being apathetic to solutions presented,” said director Michael Menendian.

Previews begin Tuesday, May 31, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, June 5. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

Laughs: $1

Zanies Vernon Hills concludes its reduced admission series on Memorial Day Weekend with its lowest prices yet. Southern-fried standup Sonya White, an impressionist and cast member of the 2010 reality TV show “America’s Worst Driver,” headlines the Saturday show. Comedian Russ Williamson headlines on Friday.

Friday, May 27, ($2 admission plus a two-item minimum), and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, ($1 admission plus a two-item minimum), at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com.

Ÿ A union organizer tries to recruit to his cause the leader of a notorious gang of truckers in “Mother Bear,” a drama by Jayme McGhan in its world premiere courtesy of Mortar Theatre. The show opens Friday, May, 27, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (800) 982-2787 or mortartheatrecompany.org.

Ÿ Steppenwolf Theatre presents “Next Up,” a collaboration with Northwestern University to showcase emerging theater artists in the university’s MFA directing and design programs. Performances begin Tuesday, May, 31, at the Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Ÿ Pride Film and Plays presents its next staged reading series “Gay UK,” beginning Wednesday, June 1, and continuing through Sunday, June 19, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The all-British program includes Roger Parsley and Andy Graham’s adaptation of E.M. Forster’s 1913 novel “Maurice,” about a young man coming to terms with his homosexuality; “The Pride,” Alexi Kaye Campbell’s examination of sexuality which alternates between 1958 and 2008, and Kevin Elyot’s Olivier Award winning comedy “My Night With Reg.” (773) 250-3112 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

Ÿ Previews begin Wednesday, June 1, for the Lookingglass Theatre Company world premiere of “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison,” a drama by Nicola Behrman inspired by the life and work of Johanna Cooper and Public Radio International’s series, “One People, Many Stories.” David Kersnar directs the play about a young girl who flees Poland on the eve of World War II for America and 70 years later confronts memories and old ghosts. Nora Fiffer plays the title role. The show opens Saturday, June 11, at Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

Ÿ Collaboraction’s 11th annual festival of world premieres of short plays, “Sketchbook 11: Evolution,” begins Thursday, June 2, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Featured works include “Evolution,” a “throwdown” about the evolution of theater by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kris Diaz (“The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”), and “Only Paradise,” about a man who encounters a sax player during a layover at O’Hare International Airport by Collaboraction associate artistic director Kristin Idaszak. Performances run through Saturday, June 25. (312) 226-9633 or collaboraction.org.

Ÿ The preview is Thursday, June 2, for The Ruckus Theater’s world premiere company collaborative work, “15 Minutes.” Written by literary manager Aaron Dean and emeritus member Mitch Vermeersch, the play centers around a strange man and the people he encounters at a world’s fair. The show opens Friday, June 3, at The Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. (773) 769-7257 or ruckustheater.org.

Ÿ Twelve playwrights and 12 directors explore 12 Chicago neighborhoods in 12 short plays as part of “The Chicago Landmark Project,” the brainchild of Theatre Seven of Chicago, a finalist for Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theatre Award. Participating writers include Brett Neveu, Lonnie Carter, Marisa Megrzyn, Laura Jacqmin and Jamil Khoury among others. The productions run in a rotating repertoire beginning Thursday, June 2, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The opening is June 4. (773) 404-7336 or theatreseven.org.

Ÿ Gorilla Tango Theatre and Geek Girl Burlesque team up for the “Lord of the Rings” and “Dungeons and Dragons” parody, “Fellowship of the Boobs,” running Thursdays, beginning June 2, at 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

Ÿ Performances begin Thursday, June 2, for “The Sister Calling My Name,” the inaugural show from Uncovered Theatre Company. The play centers around a brother’s reunion with his mentally disabled sister who has earned acclaim for her artistic talent. Performances run through Sunday, June 12, at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. See uncoveredtheatre.com.

Ÿ Hell in a Handbag Productions hosts a benefit for its latest parody “Trogg!” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Nora Dunn hosts the event which includes a performance followed by a discussion of camp and parody. (800) 838-3006 or handbagproductions.org.

Ÿ American Theatre Company has extended “The Original Grease,” which has been a hit in this revised incarnation since it opened earlier this month at 1909 W. Byron St. Chicago. Performances of the Jim Jacobs/Warren Casey musical, directed by PJ Paparelli, run through Aug. 21. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

Ÿ Annoyance Theatre has extended its parody “Oprah! A Comedy! Live Your Best Laugh.” Performances run through Aug. 12, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.

Ÿ The Chicago Children’s Theatre has received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment of the arts to support its world premiere musical adaptation of Brian Selznick’s “The Houdini Box” about a boy who may have received a box containing Harry Houdini’s secrets. Performances will begin Jan. 27 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 227-0180 or chicagochildrens theatre.org.

Ÿ The producers of the long-running “Million Dollar Quartet” announced an online casting contest to find musician/singer/actors for the roles of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Musicians should submit video files of themselves performing one of the songs from the original cast recording, which includes “Blue Suede Shoes, “Hound Dog” and “Great Balls of Fire” among other tunes. Submissions will be accepted until July 1 and fans may vote for their favorite performer, who will receive round-trip airfare to New York City to audition for the show’s creative team. For information, see milliondollarquartetlive.com/casting.